Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2133 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is ensure religious and cultural beliefs are protected by allowing the release of a woman's placenta to her or a designated individual after childbirth.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from 'Ahahui Siwila Hawaii O Kapolei, the Waikiki Hawaiian Civic Club, Hawaii Women's Coalition, Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Papa Ola Lokahi, and twelve individuals, including mental health professionals and medical doctors. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that Native Hawaiian traditions and customary practices are essential to sustaining the Hawaiian culture, and need protection. An important cultural practice is for the family to bury the placenta or 'iewe after a child is born. This Hawaiian custom dates back to pre-contact Hawaii culture. Your Committee also notes that in addition to na kanaka maoli, other cultures, including Chinese, Filipino, and Japanese, all practice some form of burying the placenta to protect the child and ensure its future health.

Your Committee further finds that it is imperative that hospitals and other health care facilities allow families of newborns who want to continue this tradition by releasing the placenta to the mother.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2133, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2133, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.